Fountain pen



Patented Dec. 12, 1939 l I FOUNTAIN PEN invention relates to fountain -pens and has forits principal objects, to generally improve upon zalldsimplify the construction of the existing ,forms; of fountain pens, to provide improved 5 means for controlling the flow ofink' from the reservoir within the body of the .pen to the pen point; to; provide improved means including valvular structures for controlling the flow of ink into thebody while the reservoir is beingfilled and also for regulating the flow of :ink to the nibs of ;;,t he-pen and which flow involvesthe phenomena of capil-lary attraction; and further; to. provide .rneans in the form of a gravity actuated longitudinally moving tube for automatically acceleratmg the flow of ink into the ink, chamber that directly supplies the nibs of the pen.

Further-objects of my invention, are to prowide within the'feed chamber of the pen a flexible tubular member; composed preferably of rubber which inaddition to functioningi'as a-cushion for the penpointthat is applied to thestemin which the; feed chamber-is formed; serves to deliver the su ply of. ink as used byithe pen directly tothe slot or channel that is formed[between the-nibs ofthe pen;.

, Further .objects of" invention, are to'provide,

simple and efficient means whereby any ink that mayre nain' in the feed; chamber within the stem .to--;which the pen pointisf applied will-by'suction 1 produced by a gravity actuated member withinth'epen be drawn back into the .main ink reservoir of the -pen,-- thus minimizing the possibility r 9f leakage of ink from the pen after, use and while it'occupies an upright position in the pocket or =a substantially horizontal position" within a hand bag or while lyingon the surface of a. table c -other supportqr Y With the foregoing and other objects .in view, my; invention consists in certain no'vel features 40 ot construction and arrangement of parts that will.bahereinafter more fully described and ,claimedand illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: I y i .wFigl is a vertical section taken through the planter of a fountain pen constructed inaccordance with my invention. b a I a {Fig.2Z is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1 and showing the pen in position with the point at the upper end of the pen body. 7 5 ;'Fig.-3,is an elevationalview of the end of the stem, to which the pen point is applied and show- 1 .ing the-end of-the flexible tube that provides a cushion for the pen point and which conducts the ink directlytothe slot between the nibs ofthe v Bert Carlisle, Santa Ana, Calif; v 1 App idation A ril 13. 1938, Serial No. 201.745

' I I C13 il1's."(Cl.120--48) Fig. {l is an enlarged cross sectiontaken on the Q I line 5-4 of. Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the flexible v I lar member that is seated in the endof thefeed stem. 1 v

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the linev S 6-6 of Fig. 2. 1

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken through the .10

rear or lower end of the-pen body and showing a y modified form of theflexible 'bulb that is utilized during the pen refilling operations.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred'embodiment .15

of my invention, ill designates a tubular member that forms the main portion of the body of the penwhich member is preferably formed of transparent or semi-transparent materiahsuch as Celluloid, and secured ,in the rear end of said tubular ,20 7

in ink or writing fluid, the'latter will be drawn into the pen as the sack it expands. Thein,- ternally threaded end of a cap l6 that may be,35 formed of metal, hard rubber orthe like, is screwseated'on the externally threaded intermediat .portion of'block l L Secured withinthe lower- 'or;'forward end of the tubular body H2, is an, internally threaded bushing l l, preferably of metal, and screw-seated therein is the inner end of lay substantially cylindrical head l8, the outer portion of which is preferably reduced in diameter as designated .by 19.

Formed through head l8'is an aXial-bore20, the 5 inner portion of which is internallythreaded as designated by 2! and the outerportion of said bore is slightly increased, in diameter as'designatedbyZZ. Passing through head -l8is a feeder stem 23 having an externally threaded portion 24 that engages the thread 2! in head l8, thus enabling said feeder'stem to be readily removed from the head.

That portion of the stemthat projects beyond the end of head I8 into the chamber within the tubular body or barrel I0, is enlarged to form a head 25 and the end of said head terminates in a tapered portion 26.

Formed through head 25 and the greaterportion of the body of the feeder stem, is a bore 21 that terminates near the end of the stem that projects beyond the outer end of head I8.

The outer portion of stem 23 extends through the enlarged portion 22 of head I3 and a short distance beyond the end of said head and one side of the projecting portion of said stem is cut away so as to form a curved surface 23.

Formed in the projecting portion of stem 23 and conforming to the curvature of surface 28, is a curved bore 29, the outer end of which communicates with the surface of the stem opposite the intermediate portion of the curved surface 28. end of bore 21 and bore 29 and formed through this partition is a small aperture 30a that enables ink or writing fluid to pass into and out of the bore 21 that'is formed in the feeder stem.

Removably positioned in the curved bore 29, is a tube 3| preferably formed of rubber and formed integral with the outer end thereof is an outwardly presented flange 32 that overlies the external surface of the feeder stem 23 immediately adjacent the outer end of the bore 29. This flange provides an elastic packing for those portions of the nibs of a conventional pen point 33, which latter overlies the projecting portion of stem 23 on the opposite side from the curved surface 28, and the rear portion of said pen point extends into the enlarged portion 22 of bore 20 and is clamped to the stem by a set screw 34 that is seated in the reduced end portion 19 of head I8.

The construction just described enables the pen point to be secured in properly adjusted position upon the feeder stem 23 with the nibs of said pen point overlying the cushion provided by the flanged outer end of tube 3| and with the slot between the nibs extending across the outer end of the duct through tubular member 3 I.

I prefer to form, the elastic tubular member 3| tapered throughout its length, so that it gradually increases in diameter toward the flange 32 although such construction is not absolutely necessary to the proper functioning of the tube which conducts ink from the bore 21 in feeder stem 23 to the nibs of the pin point.

Arranged to slide freely lengthwise through the tubular body It and disposed axially therein is a small tube 35, the length of which is such that one end always extends into and partially through the bore I2 in head II and the opposite portion extends into and partially through the bore 21 in the feeder stem.

Secured in any suitable manner on that portion of the tube that extends into head II, is a block 36 that is non-circular in cross section and which functions as a stop to limit the downward movement of the tube 35 when the pen is held in an upright position with the pen point uppermost as illustrated in Fig. 2. This stop block 36 is adapted to enter the enlarged inner end I3 of the bore I2 and rest on the surface thereof as illustrated in Fig. 2 when the pen is in a substantially upright position with the pen point uppermost, and under such conditions ink or writing fluid is free to flow by gravity from the chamber within the tubular body I0 downwardly through bore I2 into the collapsible sack I5.

Secured in any suitable manner to the inter- A partition 30 is formed between the ing end of the feeder stem I8 and the pen point that overlies same while the pen is not in use.

In order to fill my improved fountain pen, caps I6 and 39 are removed and with the pen held in a substantially upright position the projecting end of the feeder stem 23 and the overlying nibs of thepen point are immerged in an ink or writing fluid container.

Inasmuch as the pen is held in a substantially upright position, the tube 35 will by gravity move to its lowest limit of movement and in so doing the stop block 36.will move downward away from A the surface of the tapered portion I3 of bore I2 and the valvular member 31 will fit snugly over the tapered' projecting portion 26 of head 25.

As collapsible bulb I5 is squeezed, a substantial amount of the air within the various chambers within the pen will be expelled outwardly through the elastic tube 3| that communicates with the slot between the nibs of the pen, and as the collapsed bulb is permitted to return to its normal condition ink or writing fluid will be drawn from the container upwardly through tube 3|, thence through aperture 30a into bore 21, the upper end ofwhich is closed by valvular member 31 and theink thus drawn into the pen will pass lengthwisethrough tube 35 and discharge from the upper end thereof into the chamber within the tubular body I0. Thus by intermittently collapsing sack I5 a substantial supply of ink may be drawn into the chamber or reservoir within the tubular body of the pen.

While using the pen, the same is held by the thumb and fingers in an inclined position with the pen point lower than the upper end of the pen that carries the collapsible sack I5 and as the points of the nibs pass over the paper, ink or writing fluid will flow'from the chamber formed by bore 21 in the feeder stem and this ink as used passes through aperture 30a, and thence through elastic tube 3I into the slot between the nibs of the pen point. During use of the pen under such conditions, the weight of the tube 35 and parts carried thereby maintain valvular member 31 in position on the tapered end 26 of head 25, so that the weight of the supply of ink or writing fluid in the reservoir within tubular body I0 is prevented from acting upon the ink within the bore 21 below valvular member 31 and thus over-feed of ink to the pen point while the pen is in use is efiectually prevented.

' In the event that the pen is used to such an extent as to exhaust the supply of ink contained in bore 21 below valvular member 31, it is only necessary for the user of the pen to reverse the position of said pen or move the same into such inclined position with the pen point uppermost so as to cause the tube 35 to move by gravity downward until block 36 engages the surface of the enlarged end I3 of bore I2 and such movement carries valvular member 31 away from the tapered end of head 25. The pen is now shifted back to its normal or writing position with the 75 2,183,213 I pen point-at the lower end and beforethe rod -35-moves downwardly through the pen to repositionvalvular member 31'on head-25, 2. suflicient 'amount'of ink will-enter boreZl tofill the same :andthusthe supply of ink within the feeder stem is "replenishedi I j I In qconnection' with the operations just described, it will be understoodthat' tube.35carry-.

. ing b1'o'ck 36 andmember 31 which add weight to :said tubey does' not move lengthwise until after v the pen 'has moved'into an angular position'o'f lower end of'the pen body. While in' such posif tion, all ink or fluid will drain. downwardly from or fluid will be retained in the bell-shaped valvular member 3? and this small amount of inkwill several degrees past horizontal'andas result, the

ink or fluid will flow into and out of the reservoir within the tubulanbody Ill before the tube moves lengthwise, so as to position valvular member 3 '|f onthe tubular extension of head'25.

When the pen is carried in the pocket or in a substantially upright position as illustrated in Fig. 1, the weight of the tube 35 and parts carried thereby maintain said tube at its lower limit .of movement with block 36 resting on head II and with valvular member 3'! a short distance below the tapered extension of head 25. When so posi- 'tioned, ink or fluid may flow by gravity from the chamber within tubular body i 'downwardly through bore l'2,' so as to'flll the latter and also fill the collapsible tube l5 that is carried by the tube 3! and duct Z'l' and asmall amountof ink when the position of the pen is reversed, pass through bore 21 and tube 3! to prime the pen point at the beginning oil the subsequent writing functions. c Y

While the pen is not in use andoccupies a sub stantially horizontal position; for instance, inja hand bag or in a rack on a desk or table, the valvular member 31 occupies a'position so as to -.close the end of the duct 21 through feeder stem 1 and thus the weight of any ink within the main reservoir of the penis prevented from actging onithe relatively small amount of ink that is retained in the duct 21. 'Even though the pen should be carried in the {marketer a hand. bag with thepen point atthe lower end of thepen, leakage of the ink from the pen will beprevented by the capillary attraction prevailing within the, rubber tube 3! and thesmall aperture 30a in partition 30;" This preventing of leakage is enhanced by the capillary attraction andsurface tension prevailing between the relatively small amount of'ink that is contained in the angular chamber between the lower portion of tube 35 and the feeder stem 23 and which last'mentioned ink is not subjected to pressure of the relatively large body of ink within the reservoir-in tubular body I 0. I

In this connection it should be understood that the diameter of bore Z'! is only a slight degree greater than the diameter of tube 35 and as the bore 21 is of: considerablelength, a'substantial degree of capillary attraction and surface tension is produced in the bore around that portion of the tube that projects therein.

i especially important feature of my i'nvention is the rubber tube 3| that is seated in the end of feeder stem 23, for such tube in addition to controlling flow of ink to the nibs of thepen and preventing overflow by reason of capillary attraction and surface tension, is provided with flanged outer end that serves as a'cushion for the overlying nibs of the pen to cause said pento function freely and without the development of v body opposite the the stiffness orinflexibility that is tiresome tothe user of the pen.

In Fig. 8 I' have illustrated a modified'formv of the' collapsible sack or bulb that is carried by the upper or rear end of the tubular body Iii.

In this construction, the upper end of the tubu- .lar body- Iilisflangedor curved inwardly as designed by llla and removably applied to said end is-a bulb 50 provided at its'op'en end with an outwardly curved skirt portion" 5| that entersthe eontractedend-lflw of tube It] and there being an external rib or flanger52' formed on said bulb immediately adjacent-the skirt portion 5!.

- 'Ihis-rib overlies the end of theinwardlycurved I portion Illa of the tubular body and it also serves as a stop for the end of the cap that is removably appliedto the bulb as a protective cover.

Thus it willbe seen that I have provided a fountain pen that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the function for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in. the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved fountain pen, maybe made and substituted for those herein shownand described, without departing from the spirit ofmy invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims. I claim as my invention:

1'. In a fountain pen, a body provided with an ink reservoir, a tubular feeder :stemprojecting from one end of said body, a pen point positioned upon the projecting end of saidufeeder stem, a

gravity actuated tube arranged for longitudinal into said tubular feeder stemand valvular means carried by said tube and adapted to close the end of the feeder stem that communicates with the carried by said tube and adaptedto close the end s of the feeder stem that communicates with the "ink .reservoir in the body of the pen and means adjustably mounted on said gravity actuated tube for limiting the movement thereof. through the body of the pen away from said feeder stem.

3. In a fountain pen, a body having a reservoir,

a tubular feeder stem projecting from one end of said body,'a pen point secured in position on the projecting end of said feeder stem, the inner end of said feeder stem having communicationwith the reservoir in the pen body, a gravity actuated tube extending lengthwise within the pen body and extending into saidtubular feeder .stem and co-operating valvular means on the inner end of said tubular feeder stem and said g movement within'the pen body and extending gravity actuated tube for controlling the flowof ink from the reservoir into said feeder stem.

4. A fountain pen as set forth in claim 3 with a collapsible sack secured vto'the end of the pen end in which the feeder stem is seated.

5. In a fountain pen, a body having a reservoir,

' a tubular feeder-stem projecting from one end of said body, a pen point secured in position on the projecting end of said feeder stem, the'inner end of said feeder stem having communication with the reservoir in the pen body, a gravity actuated tube arranged for lengthwise movement within the pen body, a valve seat at the inner end of said tubular feeder stem and a cup-shaped valve carried by said tubular member and adapted to rest on said valve seat for closing the inner end of said feeder stem. p

6. In a fountain pen, a body having an ink reservoir, a tubular feederstem removably seated in and projecting from one end of, said body, a pen point seatedin the projecting end of said feeder stem, a tubular plug closing the other end of said body, a collapsible sack carried by said tubular plug, a gravity actuated tube arranged to slide freely within said body, one end of which tube is positioned injthe tubular feeder stem, the otherend being positioned in the tubular plug,

a valve seat formed on the inner end of the feeder stem and -a valve carried by said tube for engage ing said valvevseat to cut off flow of fluid from the reservoir into and through said feeder stem.

7. A fountain pen as set forth in claim 6, with a weight adjustably mounted on said tube and adaptedto engage the inner end of the tubular plug in said body for limiting the sliding movement of the tube and the valve carried thereby away from said valve seat.

BERT CARLISLE 

